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With all of these BS threads/posts about how much Jauron, JP, McGahee, the trainers, the waterboys, Meathead, etc. suck are incompetent, are terrible and might even be the second coming of Hitler, I thought I might try to interject some "big picture" evaluations of the Bills season thus far.
I know it won't be popular because I am not over-reacting and going nuts about how somebody is the worse thing ever to happen to this team, but read it through and really think about where this team was and where it is going.
Marv Levy – To anybody even trying to be objective, it is evident that Marv is righting this ship we call the Buffalo Bills. Listen to the players talk. Watch how they conduct themselves. They are professionals. They are learning not just to be athletes, but how to represent the community and be professionals. The maturing process of this team as a whole is remarkably. They are also acting as a team. There is none of this crap like Moulds throwing a guy under the bus. Yet, these players share the credit. To do that without deflecting the blame is a credit to the leadership on this team.
Dick Jauron – See the comments on Marv above, concerning leadership. Dick is also responsible for righting this ship and getting this team to play together. This team never gives up. They are able to battle back from a 17-0 deficit against the team many ‘experts’ call the best of the NFL. Every week this team is prepared and ready to play. They were blown out twice, one of them against the Bears when the Bears were rolling over everybody. He assembled a staff that is working with young players and veterans that are in a new system and they are achieving positive results. He has made some decisions I disagree with (see the 4th and 1 in the opener). But overall, this team is looking like it is much better coached than it has since either the days of Wade or Marv. The young players are improving, which is another feather in his cap.
JP Losman – His improvement is evident as well. His ability to rebound after a bad first half yesterday or his horrible interception to Dunta Robinson againstHouston
Willis McGahee – An up and down year. First off, he is the best RB the Bills have. While people criticize his running style, the cutbacks and ‘dancing’ he utilizes resulted in two TD’s against the Jaguars when his initial hole disappeared. You need to take the good with the bad when having a back with that style. Yesterday, there were not many holes for him, as the Bills O-line was overmatched against what is perhaps the best front 7 in the NFL. A-Train is a fine back-up, but is not nearly as talented as Willis.
O-Line – It is better than the start of the year, but still not good enough. Jason Peters is fine and could be a solid LT for years. Melvin Fowler is a good and intelligent man to be directing the line. Mike Gandy is a much better guard than LT. But he is a free agent at the end of the year. Terrence Pennington has tons of ability but is very raw. He might be fine, but still has an incomplete when graded. Duke Preston is an OK back-up, especially with his diversity but is not a starter, at least not yet. I really think upgrades in the middle of the line are priority #1 this season. At least one guard, maybe two if Gandy leaves. Eric Steinbach would look great in a Bills uniform. Assuming the Bills draft ~15th, a guard in round 1 or 2 would be a nice move as well. If the coaches feel Pennington is not the answer, and upgrade at RT is needed as well.
TE’s – Need to improve. A good receiving TE is near the top of the off season list. Maybe Cieslak can develop, but right now an upgrade is needed.
WR’s – Lee Evans is going to be a stud for years in this league, barring an injury. Price is OK as a #2, but is not great either. Josh Reed is a very good 3rd down WR who has an uncanny knack to get open 5-10 yards downfield. Roscoe Parrish looks like a potential big play type of guy. This upgrading is low on my list. I do wish the Bills would send Price and/or Parrish deep more often as they over rely on Evans as a deep threat.
ST’s – They are fine of course. Lindell is a FA. They should try to re-sign him, even thought I hated him his first two seasons. The return game is golden.
D-line – I think this unit is over maligned, especially at the DE spot. Schobel is affine player, who will get over powered. But if you want a pass rusher, that will happen. Ryan Denney might be the most improved player on the team over the last two seasons, which shows why patience is a virtue for D-linemen. A DT might be a need, if the coaches feel McCargo is not up to being a contributor. At very least, a 4th guy is needed so Tim Anderson can leave. Triplett and Williams are good, but not great players. Williams has great potential though. I also like what Hargrove shows. He might be a steal for a 5ht round pick!
LB’s – Takeo is slowing getting better, he was very good last week. Losing Fletcher-Baker will suck, but with Rosenhaus as his agent and his age it might be inevitable. The Bills should not and must not overspend for him. Crowell is another example of patience working out for a player and Ellison shows potential. I could see Takeo moving inside next year with Ellison and Crowell on the outside.
DB’s – I love the young safeties. Whitner has All-Pro written all over him. Simpson is talented as hell, but is also raw as hell. He should be a good one as well. McGee has rebounded from a terrible start to the season and is playing better. Nate is a stud CB and should be re-signed if it is at all possible. He might not have many picks, but that won’t happen if the ball is never thrown his way. Thomas and Greer are OK for depth. Bowen has not played much, Wire is now a LB (as Billsology, Meathead and I could have told you last week!) and Leonhard is a ST guy. A veteran depth guy would be nice to have.
So there you have it. This teams looks like it could go 8-8. With what it has gone through (22 new players, a new coaching staff and GM, totally new offensive and defensive schemes, a revamped in midseason O-line, etc.) that would be a good record. Going 6-3 after the bye (needed if the team is go 8-8) would be encouraging as well.
If they add some important positions in the off-season (guard(s), TE, D-line depth, O-line depth) the future might be bright very quickly.
I know it won't be popular because I am not over-reacting and going nuts about how somebody is the worse thing ever to happen to this team, but read it through and really think about where this team was and where it is going.
Marv Levy – To anybody even trying to be objective, it is evident that Marv is righting this ship we call the Buffalo Bills. Listen to the players talk. Watch how they conduct themselves. They are professionals. They are learning not just to be athletes, but how to represent the community and be professionals. The maturing process of this team as a whole is remarkably. They are also acting as a team. There is none of this crap like Moulds throwing a guy under the bus. Yet, these players share the credit. To do that without deflecting the blame is a credit to the leadership on this team.
Dick Jauron – See the comments on Marv above, concerning leadership. Dick is also responsible for righting this ship and getting this team to play together. This team never gives up. They are able to battle back from a 17-0 deficit against the team many ‘experts’ call the best of the NFL. Every week this team is prepared and ready to play. They were blown out twice, one of them against the Bears when the Bears were rolling over everybody. He assembled a staff that is working with young players and veterans that are in a new system and they are achieving positive results. He has made some decisions I disagree with (see the 4th and 1 in the opener). But overall, this team is looking like it is much better coached than it has since either the days of Wade or Marv. The young players are improving, which is another feather in his cap.
JP Losman – His improvement is evident as well. His ability to rebound after a bad first half yesterday or his horrible interception to Dunta Robinson against
Willis McGahee – An up and down year. First off, he is the best RB the Bills have. While people criticize his running style, the cutbacks and ‘dancing’ he utilizes resulted in two TD’s against the Jaguars when his initial hole disappeared. You need to take the good with the bad when having a back with that style. Yesterday, there were not many holes for him, as the Bills O-line was overmatched against what is perhaps the best front 7 in the NFL. A-Train is a fine back-up, but is not nearly as talented as Willis.
O-Line – It is better than the start of the year, but still not good enough. Jason Peters is fine and could be a solid LT for years. Melvin Fowler is a good and intelligent man to be directing the line. Mike Gandy is a much better guard than LT. But he is a free agent at the end of the year. Terrence Pennington has tons of ability but is very raw. He might be fine, but still has an incomplete when graded. Duke Preston is an OK back-up, especially with his diversity but is not a starter, at least not yet. I really think upgrades in the middle of the line are priority #1 this season. At least one guard, maybe two if Gandy leaves. Eric Steinbach would look great in a Bills uniform. Assuming the Bills draft ~15th, a guard in round 1 or 2 would be a nice move as well. If the coaches feel Pennington is not the answer, and upgrade at RT is needed as well.
TE’s – Need to improve. A good receiving TE is near the top of the off season list. Maybe Cieslak can develop, but right now an upgrade is needed.
WR’s – Lee Evans is going to be a stud for years in this league, barring an injury. Price is OK as a #2, but is not great either. Josh Reed is a very good 3rd down WR who has an uncanny knack to get open 5-10 yards downfield. Roscoe Parrish looks like a potential big play type of guy. This upgrading is low on my list. I do wish the Bills would send Price and/or Parrish deep more often as they over rely on Evans as a deep threat.
ST’s – They are fine of course. Lindell is a FA. They should try to re-sign him, even thought I hated him his first two seasons. The return game is golden.
D-line – I think this unit is over maligned, especially at the DE spot. Schobel is affine player, who will get over powered. But if you want a pass rusher, that will happen. Ryan Denney might be the most improved player on the team over the last two seasons, which shows why patience is a virtue for D-linemen. A DT might be a need, if the coaches feel McCargo is not up to being a contributor. At very least, a 4th guy is needed so Tim Anderson can leave. Triplett and Williams are good, but not great players. Williams has great potential though. I also like what Hargrove shows. He might be a steal for a 5ht round pick!
LB’s – Takeo is slowing getting better, he was very good last week. Losing Fletcher-Baker will suck, but with Rosenhaus as his agent and his age it might be inevitable. The Bills should not and must not overspend for him. Crowell is another example of patience working out for a player and Ellison shows potential. I could see Takeo moving inside next year with Ellison and Crowell on the outside.
DB’s – I love the young safeties. Whitner has All-Pro written all over him. Simpson is talented as hell, but is also raw as hell. He should be a good one as well. McGee has rebounded from a terrible start to the season and is playing better. Nate is a stud CB and should be re-signed if it is at all possible. He might not have many picks, but that won’t happen if the ball is never thrown his way. Thomas and Greer are OK for depth. Bowen has not played much, Wire is now a LB (as Billsology, Meathead and I could have told you last week!) and Leonhard is a ST guy. A veteran depth guy would be nice to have.
So there you have it. This teams looks like it could go 8-8. With what it has gone through (22 new players, a new coaching staff and GM, totally new offensive and defensive schemes, a revamped in midseason O-line, etc.) that would be a good record. Going 6-3 after the bye (needed if the team is go 8-8) would be encouraging as well.
If they add some important positions in the off-season (guard(s), TE, D-line depth, O-line depth) the future might be bright very quickly.
Thanks Doc!
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